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The IMO addresses air pollution through MARPOL Annex VI, regulating sulphur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and particulate matter from ships.

Since January 1, 2020, the global sulphur limit for marine fuel was reduced from 3.50% to 0.50% by mass (m/m). However, some regions, known as Emission Control Areas (ECAs), enforce stricter limits of 0.10% sulphur content. A list of special areas, including those under Annex VI, can be found

Full advisory at the following link.

https://north-standard.com/insights-and-resources/resources/news/marpol-emission-control-areas

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The Lymantria Dispar, also known as the Flighted Spongy Moth Complex (FSMC), formerly known as the Asian Gypsy Moth, is a species of moths, native to China, far-East Russia, and other countries of the Asia-Pacific, such as Japan and Korea.

Spongy refers to the characteristic of the moth eggs which resemble a sponge-like mass. FSMC is a highly destructive pest posing a severe biosecurity risk. If transferred to non-native locations, the FSMC population is also less likely to encounter limitations imposed by natural barriers, such as predators, parasites, viruses, and competing species.

Full advisory at the following link.

https://britanniapandi.com/2024/04/flighted-spongy-moth-complex/?redirect=https%3A%2F%2Fbritanniapandi.com%2Fknowledge-result%3Fsetuppost%3D1%26country%3D%26document%3D1152%26topic%3D%26sub_topic%3D%26video_cat%3D%26video_sub_cat%3D%26language%3D%26hot_topic%3D%26search_title%3D%26dateposted_start%3D%26dateposted_end%3D%26page%3D1

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With reference to the circular received from the Commander of the Libyan Armed Forces and the directives of the Chief of Staff of the Navy and pursuant to the assignment of the Directorate of the Coast Guards and Ports Security to carry out inspections of vessels’ hulls below the waterline at a designated area on the marine chart within 12 nautical miles upon entering the territorial waters and to submit the final report to the competent authorities with all expenses related to the underwater inspection to be borne by the vessel’s owner or the supplier.

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This is an update relating to a recent increasing trend in our area where vessels anchoring at the border/ outside the designated anchorage zones encounter delays and/or claims due to a potential entanglement with subsea infrastructure such as underwater pipelines or communication cables.

On May 7th 2025, a letter on the matter was issued by Directorate General of Maritime Affairs and sent to various maritime organizations in Turkey.

The letter instructs the agents to inform Masters prior to anchoring operations at the Istanbul Southern Entrance Anchorage Areas and the anchorage zones under the authority of the Ambarli Regional Port Authority that anchoring operations should be conducted inside the designated anchorage zones, otherwise, measures such as assignment of an escort tug or underwater inspections at the expense of vessel interests may be undertaken; in addition, administrative sanctions may be imposed in cases where a vessel anchors outside of the designated zones.

On the basis of the above, and to avoid any delays to vessel’s schedule, Shipowners should be notified to conduct anchoring operations inside the designated anchorage zones.